Driving from Ohio on I75

[Thumper1066]

Calling all southbound drivers. We are leaving on a Sunday in May ( not Memorial Wkend). I haven't made this trip in quite some time. My DD wants to help with the driving, she is over 21 and is a capable driver. Nervous Nelly, AKA my DH is already anxious. Which legs of the trip might be less stressful for DH? I was thinking Lexington to where it starts into the mountains and Macon GA to the Florida line. Are there parts of these legs I am not remembering?

 

[bcuinohio]

What part of Ohio are you coming from? If you are on the Eastern half of the state, I-77 is an option. I am in Northeast Ohio and I take the I-77 route. It is a little shorter but I avoid Atlanta too.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Calling all southbound drivers. We are leaving on a Sunday in May ( not Memorial Wkend). I haven't made this trip in quite some time. My DD wants to help with the driving, she is over 21 and is a capable driver. Nervous Nelly, AKA my DH is already anxious. Which legs of the trip might be less stressful for DH? I was thinking Lexington to where it starts into the mountains and Macon GA to the Florida line. Are there parts of these legs I am not remembering?

That's probably your best bet. During her drive through Kentucky, I'd probably let her drive a little north of Lexington (maybe Dry Ridge which is Exit 159). Have your DH take over no later than the Tennessee Welcome Station. The last exit in Kentucky (I think it's Exit 11) might even be better.

I think there might be some construction along that route. I'll be taking that route a couple of times between now and your trip. I'll let you know where the construction is.

 

[sam_gordon]

Short of going through Atlanta, I don't know any reason why any location would be more nervous than anywhere else. My 16yo drove from Richmond, Ky (just south of Lexington) to Tri-Cities, TN, and to Dayton (going through Cincinnati in a rain storm) while still holding her permit.

Presumably your DD has been driving for 4-5 years. Wouldn't you rather her encounter some of these "tough" parts of driving while you or DH are there to help vs when she has to do it on her own?

 

[tobikaye]

I think the key here is not so much her daughter's driving, but your husband's nerves. Will he annoy or make her nervous during her portion driving? I ask, because my dad would make comments when I first started driving that would have me second guessing myself. For this reason, as long as she is experienced with highway driving, I would say there should not be any problems with driving any portion of the trip, except for near Jellico or through Downtown Atlanta. Even then, the only reason I would not have her drive these are if he is likely to try and direct her and cause her an issue.

I know that when I was 22, myself and my 19 year old cousin helped my mom drive her Yukon from Ohio to Orlando with no problems. My cousin normally drove a small hatchback and I owned a Dodge Neon so that was a big difference in vehicles. I know I drove to Gatlinburg from Ohio before that. As long as she is experienced with driving on the highway, it should be fine. I know some people worry about driving through Cincinnati, but I drove myself and friends on a school trip at 17 with no problems.

Have you asked her if there are portions that she would be comfortable driving or that she would not want to drive?

 

[kydisneyfans]

I think the key here is not so much her daughter's driving, but your husband's nerves. Will he annoy or make her nervous during her portion driving? I ask, because my dad would make comments when I first started driving that would have me second guessing myself. For this reason, as long as she is experienced with highway driving, I would say there should not be any problems with driving any portion of the trip, except for near Jellico or through Downtown Atlanta. Even then, the only reason I would not have her drive these are if he is likely to try and direct her and cause her an issue.

I know that when I was 22, myself and my 19 year old cousin helped my mom drive her Yukon from Ohio to Orlando with no problems. My cousin normally drove a small hatchback and I owned a Dodge Neon so that was a big difference in vehicles. I know I drove to Gatlinburg from Ohio before that. As long as she is experienced with driving on the highway, it should be fine. I know some people worry about driving through Cincinnati, but I drove myself and friends on a school trip at 17 with no problems.

Have you asked her if there are portions that she would be comfortable driving or that she would not want to drive?

 

[kydisneyfans]

I-75 is 3 laned in KY through the Berea, KY exit(76), after that it is a mix of 2 and 3 lanes and can get a bit curvy. The first 30-40 miles in TN is tough driving. For us, the roughest part of the drive is the 40 miles in TN and the Atlanta metro.

 

[sam_gordon]

I-75 is 3 laned in KY through the Berea, KY exit(76), after that it is a mix of 2 and 3 lanes and can get a bit curvy. The first 30-40 miles in TN is tough driving. For us, the roughest part of the drive is the 40 miles in TN and the Atlanta metro.

FYI, Ky just started a MONTHS long project to repave part of I75 South. It's now to 2 lanes at the 98mm and bounces between 2 & 3 all the way south. There might even be some 1 lane b/c construction around Berea (~77mm)

 

[Thumper1066]

What part of Ohio are you coming from? If you are on the Eastern half of the state, I-77 is an option. I am in Northeast Ohio and I take the I-77 route. It is a little shorter but I avoid Atlanta too.

We are thinking of coming back I=77 it adds about an hour to the trip for us, but we are driving back home during the week.

 

[Thumper1066]

That's probably your best bet. During her drive through Kentucky, I'd probably let her drive a little north of Lexington (maybe Dry Ridge which is Exit 159). Have your DH take over no later than the Tennessee Welcome Station. The last exit in Kentucky (I think it's Exit 11) might even be better.

I think there might be some construction along that route. I'll be taking that route a couple of times between now and your trip. I'll let you know where the construction is.

Thank you very very much. Updates on construction would be a blessing.

 

[Thumper1066]

I think the key here is not so much her daughter's driving, but your husband's nerves. Will he annoy or make her nervous during her portion driving? I ask, because my dad would make comments when I first started driving that would have me second guessing myself. For this reason, as long as she is experienced with highway driving, I would say there should not be any problems with driving any portion of the trip, except for near Jellico or through Downtown Atlanta. Even then, the only reason I would not have her drive these are if he is likely to try and direct her and cause her an issue.

I know that when I was 22, myself and my 19 year old cousin helped my mom drive her Yukon from Ohio to Orlando with no problems. My cousin normally drove a small hatchback and I owned a Dodge Neon so that was a big difference in vehicles. I know I drove to Gatlinburg from Ohio before that. As long as she is experienced with driving on the highway, it should be fine. I know some people worry about driving through Cincinnati, but I drove myself and friends on a school trip at 17 with no problems.

Have you asked her if there are portions that she would be comfortable driving or that she would not want to drive?

She is old enough to feel that she should contribute to the trip. If it were her and I on the trip by ourselves we would probably split it in half. And you have it correctly. She is a very good driver. Probably better than I was as her age. DD is the one who doesn't ride along well. I just wanted to pick the least stressful parts to maintain the peace. Thank you for the input. Everyone has been very helpful.

 

[grimley1968]

I was just on I-75 between exits 41 (London) and 29 (Corbin) last weekend and all lanes were open normally. There is a brief section around London where it's 3 lanes then goes to 2 lanes just south of London. In the state of Kentucky, IMO, the least stressful part of the drive is generally south of exit 87. There was some repaving done south of Berea last fall that at least paused for the winter, though it appears from a previous post it may have resumed within the last 2 weeks (the last time I was on that stretch). But aside from having to slow down in case of a lane closure, the southern half of the state is pretty rural, not that many exits to throw extra traffic at you, and remarkably straight and level when considering the surrounding terrain. Keep in mind that for much of central and southern Kentucky, Highway 25 runs parallel to I-75 within sight of it. So if there's a major jam on I-75, you can probably get on Highway 25 and at least keep moving to a clearer exit on I-75.

Right at the Tennessee border and south for a few miles it gets a little dicey with some curves and a fairly steep climb to Jellico Mountain at the border. I agree with a previous poster who suggested switching drivers at Exit 11 (Williamsburg). I personally prefer driving through Atlanta with 8 lanes during non-rush hour traffic than driving through Knoxville. From Exit 11 in Kentucky to being clear of Knoxville is about 75-80 minutes if Knoxville traffic is okay. South of Knoxville all the way to the north Atlanta suburbs, I think, is pretty easy driving. Atlanta itself is fine if you drive through at 10 PM like we do. South of Atlanta all the way to the Reagan Turnpike exit at Wildwood, FL is pretty stress free, IMO. We normally take the 640 bypass around Knoxville (though that doesn't make that much difference), drive straight through Atlanta (again during non-rush hour times), and take the bypass at Macon.

 

[Thumper1066]

TX to grimley and all who have provided super advice. I am feeling better about the situation already. For those who are going down in the next few weeks. I would love to have construction updates.
Thank you again.

 

[grimley1968]

Just saw a Lexington local news story about work on an I-75 interchange in Georgetown, KY (just north of Lexington). The purpose is to alleviate congestion at the Toyota plant there. I don't know how big an impact it will have, but it's something to look out for.

 

[sam_gordon]

Just saw a Lexington local news story about work on an I-75 interchange in Georgetown, KY (just north of Lexington). The purpose is to alleviate congestion at the Toyota plant there. I don't know how big an impact it will have, but it's something to look out for.

I'm heading to Cinci tomorrow. I'll try to remember to report back.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I am within eyesight of that new interchange several times a day. Other than the loss of the rest areas, this will have no impact on traffic for quite a while.

 

[marius97]

Personally I thought the only spots that were nerve racking on I75 (we've done it from Cinci to Florida numerous times) were the big cities. If DH is going to make her nervous with his stress levels, I would just have her not drive about half an hour before and after the bigger cities. I never found the mountains to be an issue at all. Now drive through the Smokies and that is when I want MY foot on the brake pedal.

 

[Squirlz]

Get the Waze app for your smart phone. Real time updates on construction, cops, road hazards, backups, all from fellow travelers.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm heading to Cinci tomorrow. I'll try to remember to report back.

There was some construction around the 159mm (Dry Ridge). Cut the road to two lanes north & south bound. Other than that, smooth sailing until ~198mm north bound. Slow going over the Ohio river bridge. Absolutely NOTHING in the Georgetown area.